Project Planning Methods, Networks and Graphs

Abstract

The initial stages of any civil engineering project — feasibility studies, macro-design and detailed design — define a goal. The construction phase translates that definition into reality and very careful planning is necessary to ensure that the goal is achieved efficiently and economically. Consequently the construction phase has its own planning methods which aim to specify precisely how the project will be carried out, determine what resources of materials, plant, labour and money will be required, schedule resources to be available at the right times and generally monitor the progress of the entire undertaking. One of the most powerful and widely used construction planning methods is that of network analysis. This chapter describes how networks are prepared for construction projects, how they are used to allocate resources and maintain control of the construction work.